By LAURA WAKELY
ROBBERIES have dropped by 20.1 per cent but assaults, theft from cars and residential burglaries remain high in the latest Victoria Police crime statistics for Brimbank.
A total of 234 robberies were recorded between July 2011 and June 2012, but total crime in Brimbank increased by six per cent with 17,320 crimes recorded in the same period.
The most common crime was theft from motor vehicles, with 2708 crimes and a 4.6 per cent increase.
There were 1656 assaults in the past financial year, a 15.3 per cent increase that Acting Inspector Mick Shaughnessy attributed to family violence.
“Whilst we don’t like the figures, the increase is a result of the community’s confidence in reporting these incidents to police,” Act Insp Shaughnessy said.
“In July, we added more personnel to our family violence support team and we will focus on preventing repeat offences.”
Residential burglaries also remain high at 1843 – a 12.2 per cent increase.
But Act Insp Shaughnessy said more recent trends show a decline in burglaries and non-residential burglaries have decreased by 9.7 per cent.
Drug offences increased by an alarming 22.6 per cent with 900 offences recorded, but Act Insp Shaughnessy said the rise was a result of “more extensive enforcement”.
Last week Star revealed 23 new police officers will be joining the Brimbank and Melton police division over the next 12 months (New cops for West, 28 August, Star).
Act Insp Shaughnessy said the numbers would help police develop better strategies in response to crime and that police would also be bolstered by Protective Services Officers (PSOs), who will join the ranks at train stations across the municipality.
He said the Safer Communities Taskforce, revealed by Star last month, would be a “cornerstone” for safety in Brimbank.
“More than ever, we are poised to make a significant impact on crime in our community.”
